“Tales of Tomorrow” is a science fiction TV series which aired live, weekly, between 1951 and 1953 on the American Broadcasting Company network (ABC), for a total of 85 half-hour episodes over two seasons. The first episode of Season 1, titled “Verdict from Space”, aired on August 3, 1951. The last episode of this season (episode 43,) titled “Ice from Space”, aired nearly one year later, on August 8, 1952. Season 2 begun just two weeks later, on August 22, 1952, with the episode “A Bird in Hand” and ended on June 12, 1953 with the episode “What Dreams May Come”. An unsuccessful radio version of this show ran from January 1 to April 9, 1953 on ABC, but it was quickly moved to CBS on February 26, 1953, where it ran for 15 additional weekly episodes.

“Tales of Tomorrow” originally intended title was “Tomorrow is Yours”; the concept of this television series was developed by Theodore Sturgeon and Mort Abrahamson. In the late1940s they developed a collective of authors named “Science Fiction League of America” with the specific purpose of writing sci-fi content. Prior to “Tales of Tomorrow” the creative team was responsible 24 magazines and 47 films already been made. In an unprecedented deal with packagers (producers) Richard Gordon and George Foley, the Science Fiction League gave first choice (option) of any of the 2,000 short stories and 13 novels by the various members in the creative think-tank. “Billboard” magazine in an article published on May 19, 1951 (pg. 11) states that the “untitled half-hour stanza will be produced by Mort Abrahamson and scripted by Draper Lewis, Willie Gilbert and Jack Weinstock. The Science Fiction League is an organization of 13 of the top writers in the field, including Fletcher Pratt, Anthony Boucher, Theodore Sturgeon and Fritz Lieber.” In a later Billboard article dated August 18, 1951 (pg. 9), the TV show is credited as “sponsored by Jacques Kreisler Manufacturing Corporation via ABC-TV, New York. Producers, Foley and Gordon. Executive producer, Mort Abrahams. [..] Writer, Theodore Sturgeon”; and reviewed as a “commendable attempt to integrate mystery and science fiction - aim being to produce a show with former's fast pace and the latter's suspense. The idea has prolific possibilities audience-wise, since fiction devotees form the current wonder market of the publishing and movie industry.”

“Tales of Tomorrow” featured many actors such as a 27-year old Paul Newman in “Ice From Space”, a 28-year old Rod Steiger in “The Evil Within”, a 26-year old Leslie Nielsen and a 30-year old Brian Keith in “Appointment on Mars”. Mort Abrahams went on with his career as producer to TV series such as “Route 66” and “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”, and movies such as “Doctor Dolittle” and “Planet of the Apes”. Theodore Sturgeon continue his career as writer for TV series such as “Star Trek” (1966-1967) and “The Twilight Zone” (1986).

Episode 38 (Season 1) titled “The Miraculous Serum” aired on June 20, 1952, and it is an adaptation from the original story by the American science fiction author Stanley Grauman Weinbaum (April 4, 1902 - December 14, 1935). Among the cast members are Rex Marshall as the Host/Pitchman, Lola Albright plays Carol Williams, Richard Deer plays Dr. Dan Scott, Louis Hector plays Dr. Bache, and Peggy Allison plays the part of the nurse.

Rex Marshall advertises some of the sponsor's products, such as the Kreisler watch bands, during the first 3 minutes of the show, during a two-minute intermission around minutes 16 and 17, and during the last two minutes of the episode, where two actors sing on camera a Kreisler's jingle, under the notes of an “a cappella” group.

The intelligent values of two doctors are challenged by one of the oldest questions of modern mankind: under what parameters we should draw the line between scientific advancement and humans simply “playing God.” Dr. Dan Scott wants to administer a human his newly discovered serum, currently proven to cure a series of animal diseases. In an effort to help a woman overcome certain death (Carol Williams), Dr. Bache accepts using the Miraculous Serum on this first human patient. She recovers, but the side-effects are much unexpected...

The standard MP4 is OK though

Season 1, episode 38.
Original air date: 20 June 1952.
A physician invents a serum allowing animals to overcome any illness or injury, magnifying their adaptability. He tests it on an impoverished young woman, who`s moments from death. Becoming healthier that she`s ever been, she tahnks him for `giving her the world` which for her is much more than a figure of speech.
Cast: Lola Albright (Carol Williams), Richard Derr (Dr. Dan Scott), Louis Hector (Dr. Bache) and Peggy Allison (Nurse).
From IMDB.
Good idea. Syncro between audio and video is very awful.

Not to give anything away, I can just say that the ending is far from what I expect compared to the other dramas in this series.

Hey, it's Rex Marshall from Suspense!

Anyways, yeah, the audio is out of sync, and being a kinescope would have nothing to do with that. I've been downloading these and playing them with mplayer where I can adjust the audio sync... but it would be nice if there was an easier way to correct that in all of these.

I thought the show was very good and ahead of it's time.Enjoyed it very much.Thanks

Seems perfectly in synch to me, considering it's a kinescope (remember those?)

a little bit out of synch but thst's okay. The majority of ToT coming down the download pike seems to be generallly out of synch. I wish people who did this program would watch the completed product before giving it to IA's library